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Two CFL players facing assault charges

Saskatchewan Roughriders' Dwight Anderson leaves provincial court in Regina on Thursday, Sept. 12, 2013. Two members of the Roughriders football team have been charged with aggravated assault following a fight at a nightclub last month.Photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jennifer Graham

REGINA — Two Saskatchewan Roughriders players are facing charges of aggravated assault in connection with an incident last month that sent a 20-year-old male to hospital with serious injuries.

Defensive halfback Dwight Anderson, 32, and wide receiver Tajiddin Muquadir Smith-Wilson, 29 — better known to Riders fans as Taj Smith — were arrested Wednesday evening following a Regina Police Service investigation into an incident that took place on the Dewdney Avenue bar strip.

Anderson and Smith appeared together in the prisoners’ box for their first appearance at Regina Provincial Court on Thursday morning. The Crown agreed to the release of both men providing they follow a number of conditions, including they not contact the complainant, not use or possess alcohol or drugs and they stay out of bars and liquor stores.

There is no condition restricting the men’s movements within or out of the province.

The pair left court in the company of assistant general manager Jeremy O’Day and communications director Ryan Whippler without speaking to media. Defence lawyer Paul Harasen had little to say at this point, telling reporters he and his clients are awaiting disclosure, or details about the Crown’s case.

According to information from the Regina Police Service, officers were called at about 2:50 a.m. on Aug. 18 to the nightclub for a report of a group of people involved in, or gathered around, a fight.

When police got to the scene, they found a 20-year-old man who’d sustained what police referred to as apparent serious injuries consistent with a physical altercation. He was taken to hospital by EMS.

The investigation that followed included interviewing a number of people present in the area as well as others police later identified and located.

While city police spokeswoman Elizabeth Popowich wouldn’t provide details on the type of injuries received by the complainant, she said they will “probably (have) a lasting effect” for the young man.

Although rumours are swirling in the online universe, Popowich said she was unable to provide information on what might have led to the alleged altercation.

“I can’t comment on it, and I would only say that I would hope that anyone who is offering a theory or information at this stage has also made statements to police that will help in the investigation,” she said.

Coincidentally, the alleged victim in this case, Jonathan Kitano Mukendi, was also present at provincial court on Thursday where he is facing a number of drug charges, several of which date from July. According to information released by city police at that time, Mukendi was one of eight people charged after police executed a search warrant on July 18 and seized a quantity of cocaine and cash. His charges remain before the court.

As to what sanctions Anderson and Smith might face from the team, Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman told reporters they haven’t been suspended at this point.

“We’re still going through the process of trying to gather what went on,” he said. “We have a lot of options to do. Right now, we’ve just got to get to the facts, and we’ll see where it goes.”

While Taman acknowledged he and the team were aware of rumours circulating about the incident that night, he offered no explanation of his own, saying he is waiting to get that information from the police as the investigation continues.

“I think the police are a big part of this and we have to go with what they find,” he said. “We have a football team to run, not a CSI unit, so we’ll be fine.”

The Roughriders have a code of conduct which Taman said everyone in the organization is expected to live up to. He said where this situation falls in relation to that has yet to be determined.

This is not the first time in recent years that members of the Riders organization have found themselves in trouble with the law. Former running back Kenton Keith was charged with aggravated assault in 2006 — although the charge was later stayed — after a nightclub bouncer was sent to hospital.

Former linebacker Trevis Smith was convicted in 2007 of aggravated sexual assault after keeping his HIV-positive status from sexual partners. Former general manager Eric Tillman pleaded guilty to a sexual assault charge in 2010. Former defensive end Odell Willis was charged with driving under the influence in 2012 in Atlanta. And running back Kory Sheets was arrested earlier this year in Florida in relation to a domestic violence-related charge that was later dismissed following mediation.